Interlock mechanism for liquid dispensing apparatus



H. N. BLISS A ril 29, 1952 I INTERLOCK MECHANISM FOR LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed June 2, 1950 5 Sheets-$heei 3mm EARVEY 1V BLISS w W AWM April 9 52 H. N. BLISS 2,

INTERLOCK MECHANISM FOR LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed June 2, 1950 s Shets-Sheet 2 3 MW HARVEY NBLJJS H. N. BLISS April 29, 1952 INTERLOCK MECHANISM FOR LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed June 2, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet ame/WM HARVEY NBLJSS W MWATTORNE Patented Apr. 29, 1952 INTERLOCK MECHANISBI FOR LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Harvey N. Bliss, Windsor, Conn, assignor to Veeder-Root Incorporated, Hartford, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application June 2, 1950, Serial No. 165,842

9 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to liquid dispensing apparatus and more particularly to interlocking means for controlling the operation of the pump motor and the reset mechanism of the register.

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide for liquid dispensing apparatus, particularly of the type widely used today, a simple yet efiective interlocking means which will automatically prevent (1) operation of the pump motor and hence dispensing during a resetting operation; (2) operation of the resetting mechanism during a dispensing operation, and (3) a subsequent dispensing operation until the indicators of the register showing the amount and/ or cost of the previous dispensing operation have been reset to zero.

It is an object of the invention to reduce such an interlocking means to its most simple form having a minimum of parts, and to particularly adapt the means for use with commercial liquid dispensing apparatus of the type now widely used, so that it can be installed without difii-' culty and at low cost and without modifying the existing dispensing apparatus in any substantial way.

It is an aim, at the same time, to provide an interlocking means which is entirely efiective for the intended purpose, easy and simple to operate, fool-proof in operation, and sufficiently rugged and resistant to wear and abuse so as to be dependable and reliable in service over long periods of time.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exempliiied in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary side view of a liquidpensing apparatus which includes within a suitable housing li), a pump H operated by a pump motor I2 which draws liquid from a reservoir (not shown) and delivers it through a meter !3 to a flexible hose i4 provided with a dispensing nozzle 15. The meter i3 is connected to a speed change mechanism or variator it which in turn is connected to a register ll.

The end of the register H, which can be seen in Figure l of the drawings, includes three sets of number wheels E8, 59 and which are viewed at windows 2!, 22 and 23, respectively. Similar number wheels and windows are present at the opposite end of the register although not shown in the drawings. The number wheels i8 indicate the cost of the liquid dispensed; number ition prior to resetting with the pump motor switch in off position.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the mechanism partially through a resetting operation;

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the mechanism when the pump motor switch is in on po sition;

Figure 6 is a plan View corresponding to Figure 3.

Referring first to Figure lv of the drawings,

there is shown a conventional type of liquid. diswheels 19 indicate the volume of the liquid dispensed and number wheels 26 indicate the price per gallon at which the device is set to register. The details of construction of the register H are not shown in the drawings, since the specific construction of the register forms no part of the present invention. The manner of constructing the register may be found, if desired, in the patent to Sly'e No. 2,264,557, granted December 2, 1941.

There is shown diagrammatically in Figure 2 of the drawings, two gear trains denoted generally at 25' and 36 by means of which the supporting shafts for number wheels 18 and [9 may be simultaneously turned to reset the number wheels to zero. The means for operating the resetting mechanism comprises a crank 24 having a stub shaft 25 which is connectable to a coupling 25 at either end of the shaft 2'! on which is mounted a gear 28 for operating the gear trains 29 and 3G. For simplicity and brevity of presentation, the present description does not include the means whereby the number wheels are returned to zero upon rotation of the supporting shafts, such means being well-known in the art and being shown, for example, in the Slye patent, supra.

The pump motor I2 is provided with a usual control switch 3! having an actuating arm 32 Which is connected by connecting rod 33 to an arm 35 fixed to a jack shaft 35 on the outer end of'which is a handle 35. In the arrangement shown in the drawings the nozzle l5 when not in use is adapted to be hung on a support hook 31. In the exemplary arrangement shown in the drawings the nozzle i5 cannot be placed on the support hook 3i the handle 35 is turned to an off position, and conversely the handle 35 cannot be operated to turn on the pump motor until the nozzle 15 is removed from the support hook 3?. This arrangement is conventional and form no part of the present invention.

A second in side by side relationship with arm is connected by a connecting rod 39 toan arm it fixed to shaft it. The shaft 5! is received in a coupling 42 which is mounted for free rotation at the side of the register. As will be apparent, manual operation of the handle 36 and consequently the pump motor switch 3| will result in rotation of the shaft 4| and coupling- 42 and conversely if turning of the coupling '42 and shaft 4| is prevented then the operator can.- not actuate the pump motor switch 3 I.

As best shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 ofthe drawings, the shaft 21 which is turned during a resetting operation by means of the crank. 25, as previously described, has fixed thereto a circular plate or disc 50 provided with a notch 51. The disc 50 and notch 5| cooperate with a pin 52 fixed to a; cam plate 53 which is pivoted'at 5 1 on the frame of the register. When the shaft 21 and disc 59 are turned in a. clockwisedirection, as viewed in the drawings, the pin 52 and hence the cam plate 53 are immediately'cammed to. the solid line position shown in'Figure 410i the drawings. Thepin 52 then rides on .theperiphery of the disc 58 until the resetting operation hasbeen completed, i..e., until the disc 50Ihas been turned sufiiciently toagain brin the'notch 5| into registry with the pin 52. At this "point, the number wheels l8 and I9 willhave'been returned to zeroand the resetting operation will be halted by stop means (not shown) such as that illustrated in the Slye patent, supra. As best shown' in Figure 3 of the drawings, the pin 52 is connected to a relatively heavyspring55 which is anchored to the frame at.56 withthe result that when a resetting operation ha been completedand the pin 52is again received in the notch 5| the spring 55 through the pin 52 will drive the disc 5!]: in atreverse direction through a ppre-determined small angle of rotation. Asset forth in the Slye patent referred'to" above, the

purpose of this. reverse rotation of the disc 50' is to make it necessary in a subsequent resetttg operation to rotate the shaft 21 through more than one complete turn in order to return the number wheels to'zero position, thus insuring that allrof the number'wheels will be picked up and accurately reset. The action of the spring 55 also returns the cam plate 53 to its original position' as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

I the type of register shown in theldrawings the cam plate 53 is utilized to operate a shutter mechanism (not shown) and also a brake mechanism in the register drive (not shown) all as set forth in th Slye patent previously referred to. A portion of the shutter operating mechanism is shown in the drawings and comprisesan arm 51 having a pin 58 fixed thereto which is engaged by the camming surfaces of the cam plate 53.

In accordance with the present invention there is fixed tothe-coupling 42, this being the *coupling which is; turned during operation of the pump motor switch, an interlocking plate '60 which is of such length and so disposed that when the pump motorswitch is in off position and the register is being reset (causing pin 52 to be moved .to the right as viewed in the drawings), movement of the plate 60 will be obstructed by the pin52 which thus effectively prevents the operator from turning the pump motor switch to the on position, this being best shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. The interlock plate 50, however, will clear the pin 52 when the resetting mechanism is not in operation and pin 52 is returned to original position, as best shown in Figure 5 of the drawings.

Also. in accordance with the present invention there is pivotally mounted onthe interlock. plate 5 an interference pawl 6|, this pawl 61 being pivoted at 52v on the interlock plate Stand being urged ina clockwise direction as'viewe'd in the drawings by a spring 53. Pivoting movement of the interference pawl 6| in a clockwise direction is limited,.however, by an abutment which in its simplestform can comprise a struck up piece 64 on the plate 55.

The shape of the interference pawl 5| is such thatwhen it ispivoted to the fullest extent possible in a clockwise direction its nose 55 will extend outwardly from the plate 60 a sufficient distance so that it will extend over the pin 52 even when the resetting mechanism is in its at rest position. Accordingly, as shownin Figure l3'of the drawings, the interlock plate 60 cannot" be movedand hence the pump motor switch cannot be turned on while the interference'pawk 6| is in the fully pivoted position shown. However,

. reverse movement of 'the plate .60' enabling the operatoritoxturn :off the pump motor switch is permitted because the interferencepawlGl will berharmlessly cammed; inwardly-when. itgengages the: pin. 52 on the upstroke.

In order that the interference pawlfil may-be rendered inoperable, means is provided: forlatching thepawlinretracted position, i. Ie.,pivoted counter clockwise so'that the nose $5 no'longer protrudes radially outwardly from the interlock plate sli. In the specific embodiment. shownin the drawings this latching means comprises a latching pawl 65 which is pivoted'on theinterlock plate'at 65 and which is urged into latching position by the spring 63'previouslyreferred to as being connected to the pawl-6i. As-willrbe obvious, separate and independent springscould be utilized for biasing the pawls 5i and 65, if

desired.

As best shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, theinterference pawl BI is provided with a depending'arm 61 which serves the dual function of being engageable bythe pin 52 to permit the pin 52 to cam the-interference pawl into retracted 'position-and also provides a convenientengagement for the latching pawl 65.

As best shown in'Figure 4 of the drawings, the initiation of a resetting operation which causes the pin 52 to be moved-from the dash and dot line position to the full line positionshown in Figure 4 retracts the interference pawl 6 I suificiently so that it becomes latchedin retracted positionby the latching pawl 55. At this point, of course, the pivoting movement of the interlock'plate 5D to allow thepump motor switch to be turned to on position is no longer prevented by the interference pawl 6 l but this is of no moment because the: interlock plate-6G itself cannot movepast the pin 52 which is now in aresetting position. Accordingly, as described, above, it-is impossible to turn on the pump motor and hence carry out a dispensing operation while a resetting operation is in progress. When the resetting operation has been completed andthe pin :52 is retracted to the at rest position shown in dash and dot lines in Figure 4 of the drawings, the interlock plate 60' is free to be moved andthe pump motor can be turned on to permit a dispensing operation.

In accordance with the inventionmeans are provided to unlatch the interference pawl. 6| whenever the. pump motorswitch is turned on. In the specific embodiment shown in' the. drawings this comprises merely a pin 58 mounted .on the frame. of the register in such .position that it engages the tail of the latching pawl 55 and interlock plate "60 is pivoted. to: such position "at which the pump motor switch is on, this being best shown in Figure 5 of the drawings.

As will be apparent, the unlatching of the interference pawl 6! when the pump motor switch is turned on will not interfere in any way with the subsequent turning off of the pump motor switch in the completion of a dispensing operation, this for the reason that the interference pawl 6| merely wipes over the pin 52 on the up stroke, as previously described. However, the unlatching of the interference pawl Bl does insure that once the pump motor switch is turned oil" at the end of a dispensing operation it cannot be again turned on to carry out a second dispensing operation until the register is reset which, as previously described, relatches the interference pawl 6| in retracted unobstructing position.

As best shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, the interlock plate 50 is so formed that its free end practically abuts against the pin 52 when the interlock plate 60 is in the pivoted position occurring when the pump motor switch is on. Accordingly, if it should be attempted to reset the register while a dispensing operation is in progress movement of the pin 52 will be prevented and, therefore, the crank 24 cannot be turned. As a result, the register cannot be reset until the interlock plate 60 is returned to the position at which the pump motor switch is off, in which position it is clear of the path of movement of the pin 52, as best shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings.

It thus will be seen that there has been provided in accordance with the invention a simple mechanism which accomplishes all of the desired functions of an interlock in a convenient, easily operable and fool-proof manner, the same being inexpensive and easy to manufacture and install.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and man apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim as my invention:

1. An interlock mechanism for a liquid dispensing apparatus of the type having a power control switch and a register provided with resetting means, said mechanism comprising a first movable member, means connecting the member to the power control switch whereby the member is moved to a first position when the switch is open and to a second position when the switch is closed; a second movable member, means for moving the second movable member to a first position at completion of a resetting operation and to a second position during resetting, means for mounting said'movable members whereby movement of either to its said second position will obstruct movement of the other to its second position, a retractable member pivotally mounted on said first movable member adjacent the resetting means and normally engageable with the second movable member when the latter is in its said first position to prevent i movement of the first movable member to its said second position, means for latching the retractable member in retracted position, means for pivoting the retractable member to latching position at the start of a resetting operation, and means for unlatching the latching means when the power control switch is closed.

2. An interlock mechanism for a liquid dispensing apparatus of the type having a power control switch and a register provided with resetting means, said mechanism comprising a first movable member, means connecting the member to the power control switch whereby the member is moved to a first position when the switch is open and to a second position when the switch is closed, a second movable member, means for moving the second movable member to a first position at completion of a resetting operation and to a second position during resetting, means for mounting said movable members whereby movement of either to its said second position will obstruct movement of the other to its second position, a retractable member on said first movable member normallyengageable with the second movable member when the latter is in its said first position to prevent movement of the first movable member to its said second position, means for latching the retractable member in retracted position, said retractable member being movable to latching position by movement of the second movable member to its said second position, and means for unlatching the latching means operable when the first movable member is moved to its said second position.

3. An interlock mechanism for a liquid dispensing apparatus of the type having a power control switch and a register provided with resetting means, said mechanism comprising a first member mounted for pivoting movement and operably connected to the power control switch for movement therewith between an open and closed position, a movable member biased into a first position removed from the path of movement of the first member, means for moving the movable member into the path of movement of the first member during operation of said resetting means, a retractable extension on the first member normally engageable with the said movable member when the latter member is in its said first position and movable by the latter member to retracted position during a resetting operation, means for latching the extension in retracted position, and means for unlatching the latching means when the first member is pivoted to said closed position.

4. An interlock mechanism for a liquid dispensing apparatus of the type having a power control switch and a register provided with resetting means, said mechanism comprising a plate mounted for pivoting movement and operably connected to the power control switch for movement therewith between an open and closed position, a movable member biased into a first position removed from the path of movement of the plate, means for moving the movable member into the path of movement of the plate responsive to operation of said resetting means, said movement of the movable member being obstructed by the plate when the latter is in closed position, an interference pawl pivotally mounted on the plate and biased into position for preventing movement of the plate from open position, said pawl being pivoted to retracted non-engaging position by movement of the movable member during a resetting operation, means for latching 7 the pawl in non-engaging position, and means for releasing the latching means when the plate is moved-to closed position.

5. An interlock mechanism for a liquid dispensing apparatus of the type having a power control switch and a register provided with resetting means, said mechanism comprising a plate mounted for pivoting movement and operably connected to the power control switch for movement therewith between an open and closed positionya movable member biased into a first position removed from the path of movement of the plate, means for moving the movable member into the pathof movement of the plate responsive to operation of said resetting means, said movement of the movable member being obstructed by the plate when the latter is in closed position, an interference pawl pivotally mounted on the plate and biased into a position extending outwardly from the plate for engagement with the movable member whenthe latter is in its first position to prevent pivoting movement of the plate to closed position, said pawl being moved tonon-extendi-ng position bypthe movable member when the latter is moved during a resetting operation, means operable when the pawl is moved to nonextending position for latching the pawl in said position, and means for releasing the latching means eiiective when the plate is moved to closed position.

6. An interlock mechanism for a liquid dispensing apparatus of the type having a power control switch and a register provided with, re-

setting means, said mechanism comprising a plate mounted for pivoting movement and operably connected to the power control switch for movement therewith between an open and closed position,-a movable member biased into a first position removed from the path of movement of the plate, means for moving the movable member into the path of movement of the plate responsive to operation of said resettingmeans, said movement of the movable member being obstructed by the plate when the latter is in closed position, an interference pawl pivotally mounted on the plate and biased into position for preventing movement of the plate from open position, said pawl being pivoted to retracted non-engaging position by movement of the movable member during a resetting operation, a latching pawl biased into engagement with the interferencepawl and effective when the interference pawlis moved to said retracted position to retain the interference pawl in said position, andmeans for camming the latching pawl out ,of engagement with the interference pawl effective when the, plate is moved to closed position.

17,,An interlock mechanism for a liquid ldispensing apparatus of the type having a power control switch and a register provided witha re- .setti-ngshaft, said mechanism comprising a memoer movably mounted on the register and biased into a first position, a cam disc mounted for rotation with theresetting shaft and arrangedto cam the movable member into a second positionduring aresetting operation, aplatepivotally mounted on theregister and operably connected to the power control switch for pivoting. movement therewith between an open first position and a closed second position, said plate being constructed and arranged to avoid the movable member whenthe latter is in its said first position but. to engage'with said member when either is moved to its second position, a retractable ex tension on the plate *engageable with themovable member when the latter is in its said first position to preventmovement of the plateto closed position, means for camming the extension toretra-cted position upon operation'of the resetting shaft, means for latching'the extension in retracted position, and means for unlatching the last named means when the plate is moved to closed position.

"8. An interlock mechanism for a liquid dispensing apparatus of the type having a power control switch and a register provided with a resetting shaft, said mechanism comprising a member movably mounted on the register and biased into a first position, a cam disc mounted for rotation with the resetting shaft and arranged to cam the movable member into a second position during a resetting operation, a plate pivotally mounted on the register and operably connected ,-to the power control switch for pivoting I movement therewith between an open first position and a closed second position, said plate being constructed and arranged to avoid the movable member when the latter is-in its said first position but to engage with said member when either is moved to its said second position, an interference pawl mounted for limited pivoting movement on the plate and normally extending outwardly from the plate sufiiciently to engage with the movable member when the latter is in its said first position to prevent movement of the plate to closed position, said pawl having a surface extending into the path of movement of the movable member to permit the movable member to cam the pawl to non-engaging position when actuated by the cam disc, a latch biased into engagement with the pawl to retain same in non-engaging position, and means for camming thelatch into disengagement when the plate is moved to closed position.

9. An interlock mechanism for a-liquid dispensing apparatus of the type having a power control switch and a register provided with a resetting shaft, said mechanism comprising a cam disc on the'resetting shaft having a notchin its periphery, a member movably. mounted on the register and biased into engagement with the periphery of the cam disc, a plate -pivotally mounted on the register and of such lengththat it is engageable with the movable member except when the latter is received in the notch of the cam disc, said plate being connectible to the power control switch for'movement therewith, an interference pawl pivotally mounted on'the plate having a nose portion which-is biased radially outwardly from theplate for engagement with the movable member when the latter is received in the notch of the cam disc, said pawl being cammedinwardly by the movable member when the latter is actuated by the cam disc, a latch effective when the pawl is cammed inwardly for retaining the pawl in the latter position, and means efiective when the plate is moved to switch closed position for releasing the latch.

HARVEY N. BLISS.

r tassertions orrsn The following references are of record in the" file of this patent: 

